Wood, Smith, Henning & Berman LLP’s Post

🏡 New Housing Target Sets Bold Vision! 💼 Exciting news from the housing sector today as Angela Rayner, the Housing Secretary, unveils a new annual target of 370,000 homes alongside plans to overhaul the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). This ambitious move aims to tackle what she describes as the "most acute housing crisis in living memory," and it signals a major shift from the previous administration's policies. The change in housing need calculation methodology—from a population-based model to a stock-based one—has been a hot topic. The new model focuses on areas where house prices are significantly misaligned with incomes. This shift is expected to address outdated targets and odd outcomes, a sentiment echoed by many in the field. As someone recruiting Civil and Structural Engineers and Technicians, I see this as a game-changer. The call to action for local authorities to deliver more homes and the introduction of "grey belt" land for development could open up an array of exciting projects and opportunities in the construction sector. It's an exciting time to be involved in housing! What are your thoughts on the new housing target and NPPF changes? Let's discuss in the comments! 💬⬇️ #HousingCrisis #ConstructionOpportunities #NPPF2024

A question for nerdy planners. S59A of the 1990 Act was inserted by the Housing & Planning Act 2016 to grant #PermissioninPrinciple (PiP) for Local Plan and Neighbourhood Plan adopted/made site allocations. At the time it seemed a good idea to encourage and deliver genuine plan-led development, especially in bringing forward the smaller sites that most plans contain. But unlike the small housing-led sites and brownfield land register provisions, the secondary legislation to enact S59A was never made. There seemed to be general support for this in the consultations prior to the Act. So why was it not done, and why has it received so little attention in the years since when the profession debates actions to drive up delivery? Back in the day, the #NeighbourhoodPlans we supported had allocation policies that anticipated PiP by showing that the land use, location and quantum principles were covered and by highlighting the key issues to be addressed at the technical details stage. As a large majority of our projects do make site allocations, many thousands of new homes would have been granted PiP since 2016, and 75% would have been on small and medium sites. With many PiP applications coming through the DM system now, land buyers and sellers seem to accept it as a sound alternative to a consent secured through the planning application route. So, should it be dusted off by the new Government?

The 2024 Moving Forward Report examines the fundamental problem of affordability of rental and for-sale housing in the U.S. The NIBS Consultative Council offers several recommendations around regulations, zoning and land use, financial investments, and alternative construction methods, including offsite construction. Read the Moving Forward Report: https://lnkd.in/eAC5kQCE #housingaffordability

A well written article that provides interesting insight as to why the new '4 year supply' arrangement in the updated NPPF may actually work against local authorities who rely more on larger strategic allocations in their housing land supply calculations #planning

🏠 Important Update for the California Housing Market: A series of new housing development laws have been enacted, offering a potential boost for affordable housing solutions. These regulations aim to expedite the approval process and encourage the production of accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Joseph Von Meier of Crosbie Gliner Schiffman Southard & Swanson offers valuable insights into these changes. Join the conversation on how these developments can reshape California’s housing landscape. #CaliforniaRealEstate #HousingDevelopment #ADUs #AffordableHousingInitiative

What's in the cards for 2024? Grant Cameron writes in his latest blog that Bob the Builder may have got it right when he proclaimed, "Can we fix it?" to which other characters responded, “Yes we can!” "We can fix the housing supply and affordability crisis," Cameron states in his blog, "but it is dependent on governments and the residential construction industry working in tandem to take forward-thinking action to truly move the needle." Read the blog at https://lnkd.in/gWrfMnUB. #housingsupplycrisis #cdnpoli #onpoli #construction

Lots coming down the pike in terms of new policies and reforms that will affect the housing market and residential development. In this article for PCNZ, Kate Randell and I take a look at the fine balance between land supply, infrastructure capacity, and market cycles we must navigate. https://lnkd.in/gU_zSrAG

Great article Tom and Kate on balancing short/medium term market challenges in delivering new housing supply, with establishing the right long term incentives for better housing outcomes.

The White House has announced a $100 million initiative aimed at increasing housing supply by offering grants to state and local governments. ➕ The Issue: Single-family home production hit a four-year low in June. Overall housing construction has dipped since December, despite a multifamily boom with over 1.5 million units underway. ➕ The Plan: HUD's grants aim to cut red tape, encouraging cities and states to streamline housing regulations. Earlier, $85 million was allocated to 21 jurisdictions, but demand was high—$13 requested for every available dollar. ➕ Agency Moves: The Department of Transportation will now exempt certain projects from lengthy environmental reviews, potentially halving construction time. HUD and the Treasury are expanding a public-private initiative that's already built over 100,000 affordable units since 2021. See the comments below for today's issue.

My latest post in the RESCON newsletter on what we can expect in 2024.